A PAEDOPHILE who tried to snatch a schoolgirl from the street and groomed other youngsters on the internet is facing a lengthy spell behind bars.

Paul Whitfield - pictured here for the first time - will be assessed for 'dangerousness' before being sentenced at Teesside Crown Court in a fortnight.

The 43-year-old, of Fordwell Road, Stockton, has confessed to a series of child sex crimes between June and September last year.

Whitfield was already a registered sex offender when he tried to entice a ten-year-old into his car in Billingham, Teesside, The Northern Echo has learned.

Just weeks before the attempted abduction, the predatory pervert was trying to arrange a meeting with a 14-year-old girl who he befriended online.

When arrested after the abduction bid, it emerged Whitfield had committed a string of other crimes - including trying to avoid police monitoring.

Indecent images of children were found on his mobile phone, and he also flouted a Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO) and sex offender registration requirements.

He twice used a false name - Paul Wilson and Gennwty Guy - when registering, and also had unsupervised contact with a girl under the age of 16.

The other breaches involve him having devices capable of taking photographs and accessing the internet - also in contravention of the order.

Whitfield has appeared in court via a live video-link from Durham Prison in the past, but will be there in person when he is sentenced on March 16.

His barrister, Richard Bennett, said: "Given the nature of the offences, clearly the court will need to examine dangerousness. The defendant knows that."

Whitfield admitted making indecent photographs of children, inciting a child to engage in sexual activity and attempting to meet a child after sexual grooming.

At earlier hearings, he pleaded guilty to attempted abduction, four charges of breaching the SOPO, and two counts of failing to comply with notification.

The orders were made three years ago after Whitfield - who describes himself as divorced on his Facebook page - was caught with indecent child photos.

Prosecutor Nick Adlington said Whitfield groomed a second girl online, but she provided "a complete lack of cooperation" and no charges have been brought.

A source said last night: "It is unlikely he'll be going anywhere for a long time. He's undoubtedly a danger to children, and it's good to have him off the streets."